Container



Nov. 25, 1941.

W. E. SOOY CONTAINER Filed May 31, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l NV NTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 25, 1941.

W.. E. SOOY CONTAINER Filed May 51, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LJ V J 87 as 85 I Mi a: l l

LVJ I 89 Mam ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 25, 194 1 CONTAINER Walter E. Sooy, Middletown, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The American Paper Bottle Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 31, 1938, Serial No. 210,855

8 Claimsl This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to single use containers of paperboard and the like.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a convenient single use liquidforming the container of the present invention, tight container of paperboard or the like in which and having side panels I I, l2, l3 and I4 adapted a convenient and readily openable discharge apupon assembly to form the side walls of a conerture is provided. tainer of rectangular cross section. Longitudinal Another object of the present invention is to score lines l6 separate nd define the Side panels provide an economical single use liquid-tight con- 10 and upon assembly folding takes place along these tainer of paperboard or the like, particularly lines. At one side of side panel l4 and separated adapted for use as a milk container, adapted to therefrom by score line I! is attaching strip I8. be tightly closed after filling, and having a pro- Upon assembly of the container, attaching strip tected discharge aperture independent of the I8 is adhesively secured to the inner marginal parts closed after the filling operation and adaptface of panel ch ng Strip t! as inteed to be readily opened by the user for discharge grally formed therewith a sub-panel forming of the nt nt a part of the discharge aperture and closure, and

Still another object is to provide a convenient which will be more fully described belowsingle use liquid-tight container of paperboard or The 10Wer end of the co t i er S p ov ded W th the like formed from a single blank and adapted 20 suitable bottom flaps. Panels H and I3 carry to be secured and sealed, and in which a separate full size bottom flaps 22 and and Panels readily openable discharge aperture and closure and I4 carry smaller flaps 25 and 26. The botare preformed in a wall thereof and rendered t flaps are separated from the side panels by li id-ti ht prior t n suitable scores 28, and the flaps are folded along It is a, still further object to provide 9, con- 25 these lines into assembled position and suitably tainer of this character having a multi-wall dis- Secured When the carton is Set pcharge aperture construction adapted to be com- The upper end of the blank iS divided by S o s pletely formed with the respective wall portions 111110 a plurality o panels which are suitably in predetermined relation to each other, shipped Shaped o that y y be folded to produce the in flat r collapsed f rm, and thereafter s t up inclined sides and upwardly extending central rib for use while maintaining the predetermined mof the completed container as best seen in Fig. 3. lation of the parts of the discharge closure mem- In Order 110 eccemplish this, h blank includes her to provide a highly effective, readily operrectangular panels 30 and 3| positioned above bl discharge i side panels II and I3. The two corresponding Other objects and advantages will be apparen Su faces above side panels l2 and M are scored from the following description, the accompanyt p du t ian ular sur a es 33 a t r ing drawings, and the appended claims. maining space of each portion being thus divided In th drawings in hi h a preferred b iinto two smaller triangles 35 to provide for the ment of the invention is shown for purposes of necessary folding f the 1 9- bove these triillustrati angular parts are small parallelograms 31, and

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the inner face of a each P these e pted to be folded upo blank suitable for forming the container of the themselves and to extend v ic y u y to present invention; form the inside of transverse rib 40. When fold- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view showing the ed to this position, inner tucking flap 42 is then reverse side of a portion of the blank of Fig, 1; 45 folded over the rib 40, and outer tucking flap 43 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the formed container with the discharge aperture closed;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3 and showing the discharge aperture of the container in open position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled container on a larger scale, with parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing another form of blank;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 5, and showing still another form of blank.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, numeral l0 indicates generally a blank suitable for is in turn folded over upon flap 42. Containers of the general character just described are shown in the patent to Scott 2,025,477 of December 24, 1935, and Scott 2,047,891 of July 14, 1936, and reference is made to these two patents as showing examples of containers suitable for use in the present invention. It will be understood however that the present invention is not limited in its application to containers of this particular construction.

The present invention provides for a container having a discharge aperture and closure therefor which is in addition to the main filling opening. This discharge aperture is adapted to be formed and closed prior to the setting up, filling, and closing of the container so that the parts may be permanently and accurately assembled independently of the setting up, filling, and closing operations which are often performed beyond the control of the container manufacturer. Furthermore, such a discharge aperture provides a small, convenient, and readily opened outlet which can be much more readily put into use and operated than can the main sealed opening, which, because of its size, is necessarily of strong construction and frequently tapled and heat sealed.

Referring now particularly to Fig. l, sub-panel 20, which is formed integrally with securing strip II, is folded along score lin I! and adhesively secured to the side panel II and the panel 30 upon the assembly of the container blank. Subpanel 20 has formed therein a flap member 50 which becomes the inner part of the closure member when the carton is assembled. Flap member 50 is separated from sub-panel 20 throughout the larger portion of its perimeter by a out line 52, but this out line, although completely through the material, is such as to leave the material on either side of the cut in close contact. The remaining portion of the perimeter of flap 50 is made up of a straight line of perforations 53.

When the adhesive material is applied prior to the joining of the container blank parts, it is limited to predetermined definite areas, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 2 shows the reverse side of sub-panel 20 and shows the adhesive areas. It will be noted that a portion of the adhesive 55 extends down onto the fiap 50 and covers the major portion thereof. The remainder of the adhesive on sub-panel 20 surrounds the flap 50 in spaced relationship, leaving an enclosed area 55 which is uncoated with adhesive.

Formed in the panel 30, and extending somewhat into side panel II is another flap member 50. Flap 60 forms the outer part of the closure for the discharge aperture. Flap 60 is bounded on its upper side by a score line 62 and on the two sides by lines 63, which are composed of a combination of perforations and cuts. The lower edge 64 of fiap 60 is separated from panel ll out of which it is formed by a cut and perforation line. When the parts of the blank are folded and adhesively secured together sub-panel 20 falls directly upon the area which includes the flap 50. It will be noted that the adhesive area is indicated both on Fig. l and Fig. 2, although the adhesive may conveniently be initially applied in a similar predetermined manner to only one of these parts in the assembling operation. Figs. 1 and 2 show that the area 56, which is free of adhesive, is somewhat larger than the flap 50, and that consequently flap 60 is not adhesively attached to panel 20 and is unsecured except by .the perforations joining it to the rest of the blank. As a result this flap can be easily opened. The adhesive, however, completely surrounds this fiap 50 and in effect serves as a gasket so that no fluid can seep under the subpanel 20 and leak out the cuts and perforations on fiap 60. Fig. 1 also indicates the area occupied by the adhesive coated portion 55 of the flap 50, and this area of adhesiveserves to attach the flap 50, or inner part of the closure, to the flap 60 or outer part of the closure. When the parts are assembled in this relationship the perforation line 53 at' the top of flap 50 is substantially coincident with score line 52 at the top of flap 60. Since the adhesive securing of the blank is ordinarily performed by the manufacturer of a container, and the container then shipped flat, it will be seen that the closure member just described will have its parts assembled in predetermined desired cooperating relationship in the plant of the container manufacturer and under his control. As a result accurate positioning of the parts as above described can be maintained, and it will be further noted that the parts when once assembled, are maintained in proper cooperating relation during shipping, assembly, filling, and until opened by the ultimate consumer.

After the container has been adhesively secured, further operations of setting up, proofing, filling, and sealing the container are ordinarily carried out in the plant of the user. Thus, for example, when the container is used in the packaging of milk in the usual quart sizes for household distribution, it has been found commercially satisfactory to ship the secured blanks to the dairy. They may of course carry any suitable printing matter at this stage. At the dairy, the blanks are set up and the bottoms formed and sealed. The blanks are then given a proofing coating, such as by subjecting them to a bath of hot paraflin wax or the like. This proofing coating also serves to additionally secure the lower flaps together forming a tight bottom for the container. The coating also completely coats over the flap 50, and provides a thoroughly liquidtight joint at cut 52 and perforation 53, and this liquid-tight condition will be maintained until the flap or inner part 50 is moved. Flap 50, however, is held in place by outer part of fiap 60, and any movement is thus prevented. In addition, the coating provides a sealingof the outer flap 60 and th other parts of the blank, thus providing additional protection. The container, after the proofing coating has been allowed to drain and has been suitably set, as by passing through a refrigerating tunnel, is then ready for filling. After the filling, which is preferably to a level somewhat below the opening 50 the upper portions are folded inwardly and suitably secured to each other, as by stapling, the folding taking place along the score lines in the manner earlier described. The upper end or rib 40 of the container can then be heated to produce a heat sealing of the proofing material.

Provision is made for readily and conveniently opening the parts when desired, while at the same time maintaining the parts prior to opening in their fixed sealed relationship with respect to the container wall portion, by means of a combination of cut lines and perforations which define the separable edges of outer part or flap 60. Thus the sides 63 and the lower end 64 of flap 50 are each composed of a combination of cuts and perforations. As shown, sides 63 have their upper portions formed as cuts 65, which extend from score line 82 down to a point approximately on a level with, and preferably a little below, the lower end of inner flap 50, the remainder of the sides 63 being defined by perforations 65. The

lower portion 54 of flap 50 has its lower edge downwardly curved and is defined by a curved line comprising perforations 10 forming the end portions thereof, and a central cut portion H extending over a substantial part of the length of the line.

When the container is set up, filled and sealed, flap 50 and its opening are positioned entirely rated therefrom by score line 8|.

in an upwardly inclined wall of the container, this being the wall formed by sub-panel 20 and overlain by wall portion 30. Outer part or fiap 50, is located mainly on this inclined surface, but has a part extending downwardly past the score line separating the inclined part from vertical panel ll. With panel 30 in its final inclined position, lower end 64 or flap 68 which extends into wall II tends to bow outwardly along cut H sufilciently to be accessible for opening by the finger nail or the like. At the same time, however, the perforations 10 on either side of cut H limit the amount of bowing and prevent undue displacement. Perforations 10, in cooperation with side perforations 66, also serve to maintain flap 50 in place and thus protect and, by reason of adhesive connection 55, maintain inner fiap 50 in effective sealed relationship. When it is desired to open the closure and put the pouring aperture into service, the outwardly bowed lower portion 64 is grasped and pulled, severing the perforations I and 56. Continued pull then breaks the sealed bond between inner flap 50 and its contiguous wall portion. The cuts 65, extending from approximately the lower end of inner flap 50 up to score line 62, facilitate this opening operation, particularly at the time when the inner flap is being initially moved from its sealed position. Cuts 55 also tend to prevent outer flap 60 from bending about too sharp a radius which might put undue strain on the adhesive connection between flaps 50 and 60. Furthermore, cuts 65 insure a clean opening up to score 62, and consequently a proper hinging of the fiap about score 62.

Upon the operation of the closure member, which will in the main be clear from the above description, score line 62 and perforation line 53 can both serve as hinges, providing for repeated lifting of the flaps for opening and replacing thereof for closing, as the contents are used. While line 53 may comprise a score line, it is preferred to use perforations as described so that in the case of excess strain caused by the opening movement, the perforations will break or tear off, separating flap 50 from subpanel 20, and thus avoid placing undue strain upon the adhesive connection between inner flap 50 and outer-flap 60. After the closure member has been opened and the desired amount of the contents poured out, the parts may be pushed together again. While this of course does not reseal the parts, it nevertheless provides an effective closure, preventing access of foreign material and preventing substantial leakage; it also serves to return the flap 60 into position where it protects and maintains a sanitary condition in the pouring surfaces.

A somewhat modified form of blank is illustrated in Fig. 6. In this, form, a sub-panel 80 is formed adjacent vertical panel ll', being sepa- In this construction sub-panel 80 is folded about score line 8| and adhesively secured to sub-panel II and panel 30 by adhesive applied in the manner described above, and accuracy of the positioning of the parts is thus insured. In the form shown in Fig. 6, the attaching strip 83 on'the righthand edge of the blank is secured in part to panel H and in part to sub-panel 80, and since these two parts do not occupy the same plane, a slight ofiset occurs in attaching strip 83. Leakage at this point however is prevented by reason of the fact that the wax material utilized fills up and seals any small aperture that may exist.

Fig. 7 shows a further modified form of blank in which the sub-panel is located adjacent the part to which it will be secured, and is put in place by a single folding operation. thus facilitating accurate positioning. Securing strip 86 extends along the margin of panel II" and sup-.- plemental strip 81 extends between sub-panel 85 and strip 86, such strips having score lines 88 therebetween and also having triangular shaped scores 89. In assembling the blank shown in Fig. 7, sub-panel 85 and supplemental attaching strip 81 are bent inwardly about score line 88 and the parts adhesively secured. The container is then folded for assembly, the strip 86 and supplemental strip 81 being folded along the marginal line joining strip 86 to panel H", and then secured to panel l4. Since the side of securing strip 85 opposite supplemental strip 81 is the one coming in contact with panel l4, a perfectly smooth securing surface is obtained.

While the articles herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise articles, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container of the character described which comprises a single unitary sheet ofp-aper material scored to provide a plurality of side wall panels foldable with respect to each other and secured in position such that the container may be shipped in fiat form and then assembled, one of said walls having an extending part formed integrally therewith, said extending part having a flap formed therein, said extending part being adapted to fold into register with and be adhesively secured to a predetermined area of said wall portion as incident to the securing of the blank upon itself in fiat form, said extending part being foldable with said wall panels toprovide for collapsing and erecting of said blank while maintaining the registration between said extending part and said predetermined wall portion, a second fiap formed in said predetermined wall portion, said second flap being larger than said first named flap and being, positioned to overlie the same, the adhesive connection between said extended portion and said predetermined wall portion occupying an area completely surrounding said second flap and outside the boundaries thereof to maintain said second flap free of adhesive connection to the fixed parts of said container and readily liftable, said adhesive connection securing together said extending part and said predetermined wall portion in fluid tight relation, and an adhesive connection between said first and second fiaps to provide for lifting 1s laid first flap upon the lifting of said second 2. A container of the character described having a bottom opening adapted to be closed prior to filling, amain top opening adapted to be closed after filling, and having side walls including a portion of multi-wall construction, a discharge closure member formed in said multi-wall portion and comprising an inner fiap formed in an inner layer of said multi-wall portion and having its top defined by a perforation line adapted to serve as a hinge separable under strain, the remainder of said inner fiap periphery being defined by a cut line, and an outer flap formed in an outer layer of said multi-wall portion and of larger size than said inner fiap and positioned to overlie said inner flap, said outer flap being formed and defined by a score line at its top substantially overlying the top perforation line of said inner fiap and adapted to serve as a hinge, a pair of cut lines forming a substantial portion of the sides of said outer fiap and extending downwardly to substantially the level of the bottom of said inner fiap, the remainder of the sides of said outer flap being formed by perforations, a curved bottom line defining the bottom of said outer fiap and being formed at its ends by perforations and between the perforations by a cut extending throughout a substantial portion of said line, and an adhesive connection between said inner and outer flaps to provide for lifting said inner and outer fiaps together with a hinging movement upon the breaking of the perforations of said outer flap.

3. A paperboard container of the character described having a bottom opening adapted to be closed prior to filling, a main top opening adapted to be closed after filling, side walls including main side walls and inclined walls extending upwardly from said main side walls toward said top opening, a discharge closure fiap formed principally in one of said inclined walls and extending into the adjacent main side wall and having its top defined by a score line adapted to serve as a hinge, a pair of cut lines forming a substantial portion of the sides of said flap and extending downwardly and terminating short of the junction of said inclined wall and main side wall, the remainder of the sides of said flap being formed by perforations extending across said wall junction and into said main side wall, and a curved bottom line defining the bottom of said fiap in said main side wall and being formed at its ends by perforations and between the perforations by a cut extending throughout a substantion portion of said line, said last named cut providing for the outward bowing of the lower end of saidflap to facilitate lifting thereof.

4. A container of the character described formed from a single unitary sheet of paper material and having side wall panels secured upon each other providing a polygonal enclosed body portion, each of said side wall panels having integrally formed panels separated therefrom by a line of fold and extending upwardly at an T angle therefrom and adapted to be fastened together at their upper ends in fluid sealed relation forming inclined surfaces at the upper end of said side wall portions, one of said side wall portions and the upper portion adjacent thereto having a laterally extending part formed integrally therewith, said part being folded upon and secured to the corresponding side wall panel and the upper portion in permanent predetermined overlapping relation thereto, to form a container blank having a plurality of layers on at least a part of one of said side wall panels and the adjacent inclined surface, the portion of said integral laterally extending part which underlies said side wall upper portion being separated by a line of fold from the portion which underlies said side wall, a discharge closure member having an inner part formed in said integral laterally extending part where it underlies said side wall upper portion, and an outer part formed partly in said side wall upper portion and extending past said line of fold at the junction of said upper portion and said side wall into said Wall. said outer part of said discharge closure member being of larger extent than said inner part and positioned to overlie said inner part, said outer and inner parts being secured together to provide for opening both parts together upon lifting said outer part, said container blank being adapted to be set up, filled, and sealed with said overlapping parts in said predetermined positioning with said side wall line of fold and the line of fold in said extended portion registering with each other.

5. A container of the character described which comprises a single unitary sheet of paper divided by score lines into a plurality of fiat panels, the panels being angularly disposed with relation to each other and together forming a stiff self-supporting receptacle for liquids such as milk, two portions of the sheet being disposed in face-toface relationship to form a two-ply wall, each of said portions being cut to provide a displaceable tab connected to such portion by an elongated strip comprising a hinge about which the tab may be swung to uncover an opening, the hinge lines of the tabs being parallel and in close proximity, the tabs being attached to each other for simultaneous swinging movement, the outer tab being larger in area than the inner tab so as to have marginal portions projecting beyond the edges of the inner tab and to overlie those areas of the inner sheet portion or ply which border the inner or pouring opening, the projecting marginal portions of the outer tab being separately attached to the container wall at points spaced from the hinge so as to normally close the pouring opening and protect the edges and margins of that opening, but being readily separated to permit simultaneous lifting of the tabs and opening of the pouring opening, the hinge of the outer tab being disposed in one panel of the container and the edge thereof remote from the hinge being located in a panel disposed at an angle to the first panel so that the tendency of the tab to straighten renders its edge more easily grasped.

6. A container of the character described which comprises a single unitary sheet of paper divided by score lines into a plurality of fiat panels, the panels being angularly disposed with relation to each other and together forming a stiff self-supporting receptacle for liquids such as milk, two portions of the sheet being disposed in face-torace relationship to form a two-ply wall, each of said portions being cut to provide a displaceable tab connected to such portion by an elongated strip comprising a hinge about which the tab may be swung to uncover an opening, the hinge lines of the tabs being parallel and in close proximity, the tabs being attached to each other for simultaneous swinging movement, the sheets of the two-ply wall being attached to each other by a continuous band of adhesive which encircles the pouring opening, and the outer tab being larger in area than the inner tab so as to have marginal portions projecting beyond the edges of the inner tab and to overlie those areas of the inner sheet portion or ply which border the inner or pouring opening, the projecting marginal portions of the outer tab being separably attached to the container wall at points spaced from the hinge so as to normally close the pouring opening and protect the edges and margins of that opening, but being readily separated to permit simultaneous lifting of the tabs and opening of the pouring opening.

7. A container of the character described which comprises a single unitary sheet of paper divided by score lines into a plurality of flat panels, the panels being angularly disposed with relation to each other and together forming a still self-supporting receptacle for liquids such as milk, two portions of the sheet being disposed in face-toiace relationship to form a two-ply wall, the innermost oi the two sheet portions which together comprise the two-piy'wall being of less area than the outer sheet portion and being attached to and integral with a sealing strip or flange, each of said portions being cut to provide a displaceable tab connected to such portion by an elongated strip comprising a hinge about which the tab may be swung to uncover an opening, the hinge lines of the tabs being parallel and in close proximity, the tabs being attached to each other for simultaneous swinging movement, and the outer tab being larger in area than the inner tab so as to have marginal portions projecting beyond the edges 01' the inner tab and to overlie those areas oi the inner sheet portion or ply which border the inner or pouring opening, the projecting marginal portions the outer tab being separably attached to the container wall at points spaced from the hinge so as to normally close the pouring opening and protect the edges and margins of that opening, but being readily separated to permit simultaneous lilting of the tabs and opening of the pouring opening.

8. A container of the character described which comprises a single unitary sheet of paper divided by score lines into a plurality of flat panels, the panels being anguiarly disposed with relation to each other and together forming a stifl. self-supporting receptacle for liquids such as milk, two

portions oi the sheet being disposed in face tor face relationship to form a two-ply wall, the innermost oi the two sheet portions which together comprise the two-ply wall being of less area than the outer sheet portion and directly attached to a panel of the container by a scored portion thereoi, each of said portions being cut to provide a displaceable tab connected to such portion by an elongated strip comprising a hinge about which the tab may be swung to uncover an opening, the hinge lines of the tabs being parallel and in 'close proximity, the tabs being attached to each other for simultaneous swinging movement, and the outer tab being larger in area than the inner tab so as to have marginal portions projecting beyond the edges of the inner tab and to overlie those areas of the inner sheet portion or ply which border the inner or pouring opening, the projecting marginal portions of the outer tab being separably attached to the container wall at points spaced from the hinge so as to normally close the pouring opening and protect the edges and margins of that opening, but being readily separated .to permit simultaneous lifting of the tabs and opening of the pouring opening.

WALTER E. SOOY. 

